need to think about new cages

[headlesshorseman]

We are having our garage rebuilt soon (due to subsidence) and I'm getting very excited at having a blank canvas
I shall need to house 2 rabbits and 2 guineas, with runs as they are not allowed outside often. Preferably as cheap as possible.

At the moment, the buns are free rangers with 3x4 wooden hutch which i would like to burn because it is a fecking nightmare to clean out and are litter trained, but they do eat the carpet and the lino and most other things. They have the utility room to themselves but they are generally lazy beggers.

Pigs are in a indoor cage (4x2) with 2 layers and run around the floor when they can, but could do with more space.
Pig run should ideally be covered as the gits will easily jump 6inches because we do have a dog and toddler dnephew around

So I need...

1. flooring that the buns won't eat
   
2. a better cage or some kind of run to contain the buns with a sleeping area for when they want peace but will keep them contained and away from the wiring
   
3. a better cage for the pigs with a covered run
   
4. something to store the masses of bedding/ hay/ feed that they need
   
   Room will be 8ft wide and 9 or 10ft long dependent on where we put dividing wall, and will be centrally heated. We would like to have a sofa and a desk in there but the furries take priority over the kids and DP but not the dog
   Any ideas?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Oooh, I'm a bit clueless here because I've never had a blank canvass like you have (and I don't have bunnies or dogs to worry about)

WRT flooring. How about ceramic floor tiles?
I'm going to get DH to line my boars haybox (which is about 3' square) in their outdoor Pighouse with some floor tiles that we've got left from our kitchen. I'm sure if you look online (Ebay/Freecycle) you might find someone with leftover tiles? Or Topps Tiles type shops? I'm sure they won't mind the colour or if they match.

I'm thinking ahead to summer too. I worried about my boys overheating and the dreaded flystike. Cemented down tiles would be easy to clean too (I put rubber carboot liners and cardboard+ newspaper in the bed to insulate). At least if they have ceramic tiles and hay to lard about on, it'll keep them cool.

For storage- I've got a garage for their (ever expanding) supply of stuff - cardboard, paper, hay, straw. It's kept off the floor and I have two (new) dustbins with the lockable lids to keep hay/straw in.

[headlesshorseman]

I like the tiles idea, they would be very easy to clean.
Where did you find lockable dustbins? We currently have plastic storage boxes but they are a pain and break easily.

It it bizarre having a blank canvas, i'm used to fitting them in where we have space

[FernieB]

So jealous - wish I could redesign a space for mine.

The holiday home my pigs & bun go to has a large barn with lots of pens and I really like the way they've kitted it out and I don't think it would be too expensive. Each animal (or pair) basically has a small(ish) hutch which is at the end of their own large run - all enclosed with plywood. The hutches are quite low to the ground and are always open with a ramp giving access at all times. The floor is tiled, so it's easy to clean/throw hay on. If I had the room I would do this for my lads.

[BonkeyMollocks]

You can get dustbins from a pound shop - I always use metal ones for my horse bits and pieces just to keep out the little visitors with tails...

[headlesshorseman]

lovely i shall check out the pound shop bonkey we do currently have many furry visitors due to the giant cracks but hopefully they wont b able to get in once its rebuilt
i'm thinking about scrapping hutches and just making long runs. the buns will happily sleep on a dog bed normally with ddog on it but do the pigs need an under cover area? they have an igloo so would that and a haybox do?
dh is at the idea of them taking over the whole room

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

My bins are big black plastic dustbins with two metal bits that click up to hold the lid on (like a metal bracket)
Can't remember how much- about £8-9 from The Range but ideal to hold a 4kg bag of hay and keep it dry and protected from tailey visitors

I think GPs like a covered area anyway- when I leave their lid up on the haybox, the burrow under the hay. Makes them a nightmare to find too.I have to prod about to find GP2.
If the lid is down they make nests on the surface.
And at night they like their duvet cover on top or they get judgey (and noisy).

I suppose it's their prey instinct. They never let go of the fact that they will be somethings lunch.

[headlesshorseman]

ok, so definitely a covered area, my too arent judgey but are noisey especially because they can hear a fridge opening from 100 paces

i'v been looking at c and c cages, could b an idea to make them long and thing with a few storeys for when they bicker anyone got one?

[Bamaluz]

Upside down dog beds make good guinea pig hideaways.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Similar to the dogbasket theme- I bought a willow hedgehog house for my boys last year.
They can both fit inside - though usually one will sit in the tunnel to block the other one in or out.
It's not weatherproof but I put it in their run in good weather or inside their Pighouse.
It's willow so won't harm them if they eat it (but I might harm them, It cost about £17)